Flush receptacle.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

011mm w. coonamas, or n, commcncmr, assioma 'no m mms ELECTRIC swrrcn mulucrunme conm. el' simenon. 00mm,

(L CORPOBATIGN 0I CONNECTICUT.

FLUSH BECEPTACLE.

Appumion med my s, 1914. semi no. 838,4.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GILBERT W. Goonmoan, .a citizen of the United States 'of `America, and residing at Bridgeport, in the county vof Fairfield a'nd State of Connectlcut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Flush Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to flush receptacles and particularly to the means for supporting 1n position the usual cover plates of flush switch, plug and like receptacles.

The object of my invention is to provide resilient means for holding the cover plate securing screws so that the plate is free to accommodate itself to various installation conditions without danger of deformation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation partially broken away showing' a. push button switch installed in an outlet box; Fig. 2 -is a partial similar view under different conditions; Fig. 3-is an end elevation of the switch and cover plate; Fig. 4 is a plan of the switch yoke; Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partially broken away, showing the resiliently supported securing screw socket; Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 6 6, Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a detached side elevation of the socket parts.

Receptacles of the present type A are commonly provided with a yoke piece 10 secured thereto by screws 11 and provided with ears 12 through which pass the screws 13 by means of` Which the receptacle is fastened to the lugs 14 on the outlet box 15. The cover plate 16 has heretofore been held in place over the receptacle by screws 17 which take into a threaded hole in the yoke, similar to the hole 18 for the yoke screws 11. Inasmuch as the yoke is rigid, the cover plate, if made of relatively thin sheet metal, is very apt to be dished by the ressure of the head of the screw when the atter is turned down hard, as is the common practice of line-men. This is particularly apt to be the case when the outlet box has been installed below the surface of the plaster so that the cover late, resting on the latter, is spaced well a ove the yoke. This defect I have now obviated by providing a spring-pressed socket 19 into which the late screw 17 enters. This socket 19 maylbe of any suitable sha I have here shown it rectangular andpseliding in a rectangular guide hole 20 in Bpecication of Letten Patent.

Patented June 8, 1915.

the yoke, so that it is held against rotation. A spring 21 interposed between the yoke 10 and the flange 22 at the bottom of the socket 19 holds the latter down and is of suilicient strength to retain the cover plate 16 properly in position against the supporting vsurface. The flange 23 at the upper end of the socket prevents the escape of the latter 'from the yoke. As here shown this flange 23 is formed by rolling over the upper end ofthe internally threaded square rivet 124, fitted in the squared socket sleeve 19 at the lower end of which is the flange 22 against which the spring 21 rests.

Obviously when either of the plate screws 17 is turned down into the socket 19 until the head of the screw bears against the plate, the further rotation ot' the screw, instead of buckling or dishing the plate. simply draws the socket up against the under side of the plate and binds without deformin'g the-plate in the least. A similar action occurs even when the outlet box is installed below the surface of the plaster 25, as in Fig. 2. The spring 21 is merely placed under greater tension by the further drawing out of the socket b v the screw. Again. if the outlet box is installed out of alinement with the wall surface so that one ear 12 is set deeper in the plaster than the other, sufficient plav is afforded between the socket 19 and its guide hole 2O to permit the socket to tilt slightly and thus alining it with the screw 11 although the plate 16 is secured at an angle to the plane of the yoke 10. It is also slightly adjustable sidewise, so that in case of a number of switches in a gang box, some slight variation in the setting of the switches would not result in making it impossible to put all the screws into the different switch ears.

Various modifications of the construction f spring-supported thereon to receive -the se- E cunng screw for a face plate.

3. In a flush receptacle, a cover late therefor and spring means for yiel ably position over the rethe direction of the cover plate, together with spring means tending to hold said socket against movement in the direction stated.

6. In flush receptacles, a cover plate, a securing screw socket carried with a lost motion connection by the receptacle and having limited freedom of motion with relation to the receptacle.

7. In flush receptacles a. cover plate, a securing screw socket carried with a lost motion connection by the receptacle and having limited freedom of motion both at an angle to the receptacle and in the direction of the cover plate.

8. In Hushv receptacles, a cover plate, and a securing screw socket carried with a lost motion ,connection by the vreceptacle and tiltable with relation to theflatter, for the purpose described.

9. In combination with a cover plate for flush receptacles, a securing device comprising a screw socket adapted to receive a coverplate securing screw and means for supporting said socket beneath the late and with lost motion in the direction o the latter.

l0. In combination with a cover plate for flush receptacles, a securing device comprising a screw socket adapted to receive a coverplate securing screw and means for supporting said socket beneath the plate and with lost motion in the direction of the latter, together with spring means opposing the movement of the socket in the direction stated.

11. In combination with a cover plate for 4Hush receptacles, a securing screw passing therethrough, and a socket for said screw, said socket being yieldably supported beneath the cover plate whereby it may be drawn against the inner face of the cover plate by the rotation of the securing screw therein.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GILBERT W. GOODRIDGE.

Witnesses:

l H. M. WIGHERT,

A. H. JONES. 

